No More Gels - Page 8

DIY Whole Food Bars

Besides making the best deer jerky in the world, a friend and his family make their own whole-fruit bars—ideal for everything from a quick mid-run pick-me-up to fueling multi-day ultras or fastpacking adventures.

Says creator Susie Grothe of Madison, Mississippi, “We don’t follow an exact recipe. We just put what we like in a food processor, and it changes every time we make them.” After she and her son Chris reeled off some tasty ingredients and I did my own at-home experimentation, yielding the following delicious whole-food concoction:

2 cups pitted dates

1 cup flaked coconut, no added sugar

1 cup dried tart cherries, no added sugar

¼ cup coconut butter

1 cup raw macadamia nuts

Pinch sea salt

Two drops lemon juice

Blend all ingredients together in food processor

For long runs, shape them into bite-sized balls for fast, easy consumption. And, for all-day mountain adventures, wrap up large square chunks.